Fiat Bravo Quiz
Maintenance

Check/Tension Drive Belt

In this manual: Maintenance
Dear Reader — 1Engine — 35Engine lubrication — 3Engine cooling — 10Ignition/spark plugs — 14Fuel system — 10Petrol fuel injection — 13Diesel injection system — 13Exhaust system — 7Clutch — 7Transmission / Gearshift / Automatic Transmission — 5Front Axle — 11Rear axle — 4Steering — 9Wheel alignment — 1Brake system — 22Wheels and tyres — 10Body — 34Heating — 6Electrical system — 39Lighting system — 14Instruments — 7Windscreen wiper system — 8Vehicle care / tools — 6Jump Starting / Towing the Vehicle — 3Jacking up the vehicle — 1Fiat Bravo / Brava Maintenance Schedule — 1Maintenance — 38Wiring diagrams — 5
~2min read

Special tools required:

  • The Fiat workshop checks the belt tension with a special tester.

    If the tester is not available, perform the "thumb test".

Required wear parts:

  • V-belt or multi-rib (poly-V) belt.

    Length depends on equipment and model.

Note: Ancillary components such as the coolant pump, alternator, power steering pump and A/C compressor are driven by a common multi-rib (poly-V) belt. Only the 1.6 L engine and diesel engine use separate, in some cases narrow V-belts to drive the power steering pump and A/C compressor (where fitted).

The multi-rib belt is wider than the V-belt and has ribs on its running surface.

Because belt tension is kept constant by an automatic tensioner, the multi-rib belt does not need to be retensioned and is virtually maintenance-free.

Keilriemen prüfen/spannen

  • V-belts and multi-rib belts must be replaced if there is: excessive wear, frayed edges, oil traces, porosity, cross-section breaks, or dirt and small stones embedded between the ribs. The illustration shows wear patterns on a multi-rib belt: frayed tension cords - f -, ribs torn out - g -, transverse cracks - h - across several ribs.

    If one or more of these signs appear, the multi-rib belt must be replaced.

  • 1.6 L engine: check belt tension by applying firm thumb pressure midway between the two pulleys that are furthest apart.

    When checking the tension of a belt that has been in service for some time, retension the multi-rib belt only if it can be deflected by more than 6 mm during the check. The V-belt may deflect by approx. 4 mm.

  • 1.4 / 1.8 / 1.9 / 2.0 I engines: the multi-rib belt tension is set automatically by the belt tensioner and cannot be adjusted.

  • To replace or tension the V-belt/multi-rib belt, see page 58.

Replace timing belt

If the work is performed incorrectly, it can cause serious engine damage, so work precisely.

The timing belt replacement is described in the "Engine" chapter.

On the 2.0 L engine the engine must be removed first, so I recommend having this work carried out by a specialist workshop.

Visual inspection of exhaust system

  • Raise the vehicle.

  • Check that the retaining clamps are firmly seated.

  • Inspect the exhaust system with a lamp for holes, rusted-through parts and chafe marks.

  • Replace exhaust pipes that are severely crushed.

  • Check rubber mountings for porosity by twisting and stretching them, and replace if necessary.

  • Lower the vehicle.

Test yourself

A quick Fiat Bravo quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.